Contaminated Laptop at PenFed Results in Data Hack

A laptop at the Pentagon Federal Credit Union has been contaminated with malware, exposing the Union's credit card and private data to security hack.

Wrote lawyers for PenFed to the Office of Attorney General of New Hampshire, it was December 12, 2010 that the Union noticed malware on the laptop.

Reportedly, with the infected laptop, someone gained illegal admission into a database, which stored numerous names, addresses, debit card, credit card and Social Security numbers belonging to PenFed's current and erstwhile members, its beneficiaries, employees, and joint-owners.

But immediately as PenFed found the malware, its officials acted towards removing it. They even detected the way that was employed for accessing the information following which suitable measures were adopted for stopping any repeat of the incident.

Moreover, PenFed has disclosed that hitherto there's no sign of misuse of the private details belonging to those affected with the recent incident. Nevertheless, according to the security specialists, those who stole the information could utilize it for dispatching phishing and spam mails later that may damage users' PCs.

Meanwhile, following the security breach, PenFed is issuing notices to all those affected wherein it promises to provide Kroll's protection service against ID-theft, free of cost for 2 years.

The service that's known as ID TheftSmart deals with credit monitoring, credit reports along with ID-theft restoration and consultation. Still, it's strongly recommended that people should regularly check their credit reports as well as account statements for any doubtful transaction.

Additionally, PenFed said that affected individuals could place an alert of fraud with any of the prominent agencies for credit reporting viz. TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. These alerts direct creditors that they must carry out an increased scale of verifications while sanctioning money to the select entity.

Eventually, PenFed's Roderick B. Mitchell, Executive Vice-President (Operations) stated that the Union regretted any concern alternatively trouble the event might have caused, however it valued PenFed users' steadfast faith in the company. Mitchell added that PenFed was committed for giving the greatest priority to its users' privacy through measures that were essential for safeguarding their information. Softpedia reported this on January 6, 2011.